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Will be a big miss, his current form keeps him in the shop window for whichever route he wants to take forward.
If he is leaving, Wigan need to look at making a solid replacement, is Budgie content in Sydney, he'd be my first choice if the option was available.

Panchitta Marra wrote:Will be a big miss, his current form keeps him in the shop window for whichever route he wants to take forward.
If he is leaving, Wigan need to look at making a solid replacement, is Budgie content in Sydney, he'd be my first choice if the option was available.

Wouldn't surprise me to see him back next season!

nathan_rugby wrote:

josie andrews wrote:

DaveO wrote: You have not mentioned who he has inside him at centre. Since Goulding left we f not had a wingers centre or much experience inside of him.

I must admit I don't get the stick Charnley got last year. Some of it was I believe the usual "Wane is always right" brigade who felt it was imperative to criticise Josh because if you didn't that would mean you disagreed with the almighty Wane.

But for others I was baffled as to what he had done to get their backs up.

I am sure if he does leave we will see the "no great loss" comments a plenty. Deluded if so.

I was thinking the same thing as I read Nathan's post!

How is that an excuse for Charnley but wasn't a factor for Burgess/Manfredi?

Who says it isn't a factor affecting all our wingers? If it affects them all then it explains why Josh hasn't done as well as previously doesn't it.

He scored 32 tries in 2012 and 34 in 2013. (28 league appearances) . In 2014 it was 21 from 19, 2015 8 from 12.

Joe scored 20 from 23 in 2014 and 22 from 24 in 2015.

Dom 11 from 12 and 15 from 13 (2014 and 15).

So as you can see no one has done as well as Josh did back in 2012 and 2013 when Goulding was his centre but in 2014 when the stats are comparable his strike rate was similar (though a little better) to Burgess but still well down.

I don't think it's all about the centres.

2012:
Goulding 15 try assists, Carmont 11 - Sam T 33

2013:
Goulding 14 try assists, Thornley 10 - Sam T 21

2014:
Sarginson 12 try assists, Gelling 11 - Bowen 12

2015:
Gelling 11 try assists, Sarginson 6, Gildart 2 - Bowen 10/Rocky 7

Fullback has seen a bigger drop off in setting up tries for wingers than centre possibly.

So, you have winger's own play, centre's play and full back play to consider really. That's without even mentioning the halves and their contribution to a winger's strike rate. There's no one part of the team you can blame, so you have to look back at the individual and say Josh wasn't good enough in his lean spell. He's looking more of a threat this year though and I don't want to see us have to replace him because I just can't see we'd be getting someone better instead.

Personally I feel that for some reason SW doesn't like Josh. He seemed to be dropped a lot over the last few years in scenarios that other players would not have been. Add this up with the drop in running opportunities created by the inside players and I'm not surprised he's thinking about another direction for his future.

If he goes IMO he's been pushed - maybe not explicitly, but a drip, drip drip effect over the last few years. I guess if he has a great season this year it will make his decision harder, so if we can delay his negiotiations with Sale it might give us a chance to retain him. Plus, if he hits great form and gets back into the International setup it will give him more contract negotiating power so will increase our chances more. I doubt he'll wait though - he needs something lined up for next season as I understand it.

Mike wrote:Personally I feel that for some reason SW doesn't like Josh. He seemed to be dropped a lot over the last few years in scenarios that other players would not have been. Add this up with the drop in running opportunities created by the inside players and I'm not surprised he's thinking about another direction for his future.

If he goes IMO he's been pushed - maybe not explicitly, but a drip, drip drip effect over the last few years. I guess if he has a great season this year it will make his decision harder, so if we can delay his negiotiations with Sale it might give us a chance to retain him. Plus, if he hits great form and gets back into the International setup it will give him more contract negotiating power so will increase our chances more. I doubt he'll wait though - he needs something lined up for next season as I understand it.

Or does he want more than what we can afford.

thegimble wrote:

Mike wrote:Personally I feel that for some reason SW doesn't like Josh. He seemed to be dropped a lot over the last few years in scenarios that other players would not have been. Add this up with the drop in running opportunities created by the inside players and I'm not surprised he's thinking about another direction for his future.

If he goes IMO he's been pushed - maybe not explicitly, but a drip, drip drip effect over the last few years. I guess if he has a great season this year it will make his decision harder, so if we can delay his negiotiations with Sale it might give us a chance to retain him. Plus, if he hits great form and gets back into the International setup it will give him more contract negotiating power so will increase our chances more. I doubt he'll wait though - he needs something lined up for next season as I understand it.

Or does he want more than what we can afford.

We can't compete with what Sale are offering, he's gone.

thegimble wrote:

Mike wrote:Personally I feel that for some reason SW doesn't like Josh. He seemed to be dropped a lot over the last few years in scenarios that other players would not have been. Add this up with the drop in running opportunities created by the inside players and I'm not surprised he's thinking about another direction for his future.

If he goes IMO he's been pushed - maybe not explicitly, but a drip, drip drip effect over the last few years. I guess if he has a great season this year it will make his decision harder, so if we can delay his negiotiations with Sale it might give us a chance to retain him. Plus, if he hits great form and gets back into the International setup it will give him more contract negotiating power so will increase our chances more. I doubt he'll wait though - he needs something lined up for next season as I understand it.

Or does he want more than what we can afford.

He's one of the few genuine class players of international standard we have. He should be a high earner here and should have been offered a substantial new contract before now.

Remember Sale lost interest and have only renewed it as they are losing players so by dawdling we missed a chance to offer him a deal he may well have signed.

The fact he isn't already contracted is the club's own fault. Same thing happened with Burgess (and if I recall correctly Ashton). Sloppy contract handling let others get a sniff in and once they did we had no chance.

Now you might argue Sale could come and wave the cheque book anyway but as we have seen the grass isn't always greener in RU and if he was on a good wedge here he may well have not been tempted.

From what I understand he had already been signed by Sale Sharks for next season, but because of injuries to their Wingers, Sale want to sign him now for the remainder of their present season.

If correct and he does leave, I for one will be sorry to see him go as along with Burgess and Manfredi, he has been one of the best three wingers we have had in recent seasons.

And has nobody noticed that unlike last season when we had three good wingers for two positions, this season if he goes, we are left with only one in Manfredi, unless of course when Sam returns at Full Back, Sarginson returns to Centre, the plan is to play like Thornley before him, another Centre in Gildart on the wing.

menpond wrote:Well its up to Wane. He makes the calls,and its do or die in WANE YEAR 5.Hope he makes it work.,genuinely. We have started the season mentally focussed,and a win tonight will give us all more confidence. Do not fuss re Saint Helens at Easter,its WEMBLEY WE NEED!!!

We have failed to make any improvements under Wane.

Our attack is getting worse.

Our squad is getting weaker.